Could we have (gloriously) car-free streets next year?
@OpenStreetsPHL wants to make it happen
UPDATED:
It seems snowballing public enthusiasm has garnered the attention of not just presumptive mayoral candidate Jim Kenney, but that of the current administration too:
ORIGINAL POST BELOW:
The major upside to all of that odious ‘police state’ horseshit last weekend was a largely car-free Center City. Most residents fled as the security juggernaut arrived, and vehicles that exited the ‘traffic box’ were not permitted to return until the feds packed up and drunkenly stumbled home.
I can personally attest to how blissful streets were on Saturday and Sunday, and so can many other residents, it seems. I was able to walk down the middle of streets from the Fitler Square area all the way to the Ben Franklin Bridge (also free of vehicular traffic).
In the wake of Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia, @OpenStreetsPHL is taking advantage of the enthusiasm many shared over those two days. They’re petitioning Democratic mayoral candidate Jim Kenney (the presumptive winner) to make ‘pOpenstreets’ a reality next summer. From the petition:
Thousands of us fell in love with the open streets of Philadelphia this weekend, but just because the Pope’s gone, that doesn’t have to be the end of the story.
Let’s make this the start of something great — a new tradition of reclaiming public streets for people in Philadelphia.
What’s more, we can do this better. Unlike the Pope’s visit, Open Streets PHL will be focused on fun for residents, not moving a million people from around the world into the city, and the security issues that come with that.
Support for Open Streets PHL’s initiative has exploded online:
If you missed the blend of dystopia and utopia over the weekend, Inga Saffron has a terrific column on the experience:
Here’s the petition:
